This study wad conducted to explore the effects of two types of Chinese phonetic symbols teaching materials/methods (Chinese book I vs. programmed materials) on the remedial instruction for the mildly mentally retarded children. The nonequivalent-control group model of quasi-experimental research design was utilized in this study Twenty-four subjects were selected from three local elementary schools, eight from each school. Two schools were randomly assigned as two experimental groups, and the third as the control group. The experimental groups received 40-hour remedial instruction of Chinese phonetic symbols, while the control group did not. Two major results were found: 1. The remedial instruction of Chinese phonetic symbols in small class could improve the subjects' performance of Chinese phonetic symbols. 2. The two types of teaching materials/methods were helpful to improve the experimential groups' performance without significant difference between them. Besides, both teaching materials/methods had significant effects on maintenance and generalization. Some suggestions were proposed in terms of the instruction of Chinese phonetic symbols for the mildly retarded children.